Darker sounding pots ?

T

Taipan

New member
Hi Guys
just wondering if anyone can recommend any darker sounding pots for my "SuperStrat"

I have already put a Tone Zone in the bridge position 250k pots i cant remember what brand .
My reasoning is......
If i remember right many years ago a friend played around with different brands and some were darker

The guitar is still pretty bright sounding by nature with an ebony fretboard
just thinking of simple fixes

Unless there is some resistor or capacitor I can use to knock off some top end
I prefer a thick dark woody tone .

Does anyone have any tips to darken up the guitar ?

Other than that i might change the bridge saddles
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

Try changing the caps....I do like the NOS Tropical Fish, you can get those on the Bay for few dollars,..... I used .o1uf they did the job for me.....
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

I think your barking up the wrong tree with changing the saddles. The cap type wont make any difference the cap value will make some but its still going to be minor. Woody is one adjective i would never use to describe a Tone Zone I think you need to swap pups. Try a pearly gates or something.
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

A PG Seriously ?
The guy wants a darker tone and you suggest one of the BRIGHTEST humbuckers ???

I'd expect a TZ with 250k pots to be very dark as it's dark with 500k pots in my experience.

What are the full specs of the guitar ?
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

Why can't you just turn your tone knob down a bit? (I understand if you only have volume). Or turn the treble down on your amp? Maybe just roll down your volume knob (unless you have a treble bleed on the volume pot, treble will decerase as volume decreases). Simplest fixes I can imagine.

Edgecrusher is correct about pickups. Woody is a term usually applied to lower (vintage-y) output pickups.

Capacitors and saddles are not going to do what you want.
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

wolf5150 said:
A PG Seriously ?
The guy wants a darker tone and you suggest one of the BRIGHTEST humbuckers ???

I'd expect a TZ with 250k pots to be very dark as it's dark with 500k pots in my experience.

What are the full specs of the guitar ?
Click to expand...

Maybe its my LP but with a PG and 300k pots its a very warm and round sounding pickup though i will admit to not having used it in any other guitar.

Either way the tone hes after is exceptionally dark maybe a CC something. Or even better turning the treble down on the amp
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

Thanks guys
I chose the Tone Zone because I though it would be pretty dark

I dont like turning the tone pots on my guitars it never sound right.

As for setting the amp or pedals different , sure then I have to change them beck between songs/guitar changes .

There is not much time for getting that right all the time I hate stuffing around on stage

I would like the guitar sounding as thick as I can in from the start
as I like a very thick dark tone that might sound dull at home volumes

But with a loud amp pushing Celestions things get bright real quick !

years ago i had a strat with a hotrails in the bridge & the tech put a really low value pot in the tone position by mistake I think it was 50k

It sounded great to me , sounded wolly at home but great live
it really worked great thick compressed lead tone !
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

Taipan said:
I dont like turning the tone pots on my guitars it never sound right.
Click to expand...

I used to be the same way, but it was because most of my guitars came with .047uf caps. Now, I always swap them for .022's and the tone control has become mucho-usable again. You might try that. Or even a .01uf. Thats a pretty simple mod.
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

If you click on my You Tube link you'll hear a .01 tone cap in action.

I love what it does and use it a lot.

If you use position 2 , split hum and mid single together, turn down the tone pot you get instant cocked wah.. awesome tone !!!
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

Really? The problem you describe and what you want to accomplish (especially about changing guitars and not wanting to mess with pedal and amp settings) can best be solved by using your guitar's tone knob.

Don't be a sissy. Don't be afraid to use what you already have. If you choose the right cap for your needs you'll get the response that you want from your tone control.
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

There has been lots of good advice in this thread. Changing settings for each guitar is pretty normal. And the guitars volume and tone control are there to make your guitar adaptable and flexible. Find out just what that superstrat and tone zone are capable of.
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

Use your tone controls on the amp, or on the guitar. The only reason I change pots is if there is not enough treble. Excess treble can always be easily tamed IME.
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

I've got one of these for when I need to make some changes like this.

M10810-BandGraphicEQ-11.png
 
Re: Darker sounding pots ?

When Leo Fender came out with the Esquire Tele, Mind you one pickup, He could get a Bass sound out of that pickup.....+.. all the other regular sounds from a Tele....So, Caps + resistors, can do a Hell of o lot on your guitar tone....
Go to "Premier Guitar" on line, and look for "Mod-Garage" by Dirk Wacker, he is talking about this particular Mode this month.... In the Archives, you can go to All of the Strats Mods by Him also.... BTW, I used to keep all my knobs a 10.....Wrong !!! your Strat will sound better when you hit the Sweet Spot !!!! Right around 7, on mine.....My 2 cents..... Hope it helps....
 
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